The New York Clipper (December 1919)

.12 THE NEW YORK CLIPFER December 31; 1919 STOCK NEWS BROADWAY PLAYS NOT ALWAYS > GOOD FO R STOCK PRODUCTION Audiences More Particular and Exacting Than Rialto Theatre- goers. - Many Plays That Have Made Good in New York Fall Flat in Stock Houses. The recent failure of several Broadway plays to make good in stock only empha- sized the oft repeated assertion that a Broadway success is not necessarily an as- sured money-maker in stock. The reason for this is the difference in demands of the stock audiences, and the Broadway theatre- goer. The Broadway audience is a cosmo- politan, mixed affair, that views "it* shows from the angle of personal or racial ap- peal, while the stock audience is one that views its plays from the angle of appeal to the mind and heart. "The Tidal Wave," a play that has been in stock for several years, never saw the light of Broadway, and yet has never failed to get money wherever played in stock. "The Challenge," recently produced in New York, with a cast that, including extras, numbered about seventy, was tried out in stock just as it played in New York, and is said to have failed. It was rewritten, cut, and put on again, suitable for stock needs, and scored an instant suc- cess. Other plays, such as "The Little Mother to Be,". "After Office Hours" and plays of that type, have been great money makers, although practically unknown outside of stock circles. Stock plays, for the most part, are written for stock, and Broadway plays are written for Broadway audiences, and the two don't very well agree. CHICAGO ADDS COMPANY CmcAao, Dec 29.—Chicago is to have another dramatic stock company, accord- ing to plans made by Irons and damage, who have announced the opening at the National Theatre, on Sunday, January 4. The closing of the three Lorin Howard stock companies, earlier in the season, left Chicago with only one organization under the management of Frank A- P. Gazzalo. The new company wfll, therefore, put Chi- cago back on the stock map. The players will be under the direction of Frank J. O'DonnelL NEW BRITAIN CO. TO CLOSE Niw Bbttais, Conn., Dec. 27.—The Lyceum Theatre Players, under the direc- tion of W. C. Maason, will only play here for two weeks longer and. then the players will return to their own.homes. The reason for the breaking up of the company is poor business. Whether the people of New Britain did not like the type of plays presented, or whether it was the nearness of Hartford that affected the company, is uncertain. The company will close on January 10. WORLEY GETS MANY PLAYS ■Dean Worley, general manager of fie Wilkes Players, in Seattle, Denver and Los 'Angeles, who was in town recently to get plays for his company, has secured, among others, "The Country Cousin, "Pollyanna," "Daddy Long Legs," "The Willow Tree." Worley is expected to re- turn again after witnessing the presenta- tion of these by the various companies, and. if they suit, will contract for more. WILKES MANAGERS CHANGE Seattle, Wash., Dec. 2T.—A' switch in Wilkes' theatre managers took place this week, when John Cooke, who has man- aged several theatres along the coast, was placed in charge of the WTlk.es Players here, and Newell Miller, whom he suc- ceeded, was transferred to the Majestic, Los Angeles, where another of the Wilkes companies is appearing. "GREAT DIVIDE" REVTVAL SET Portland, Me., Dec. 27.—Henry Mil- ler's great success, "The Great Divide," the revival of which was recently announced, will be seen next week at the Jefferson Theatre, when the Jefferson Players wfll revive it- This company has recently been reviving several old plays, and also pre- senting the first stock runs of others. MITCHELL. SUCCEEDS EBEY Oakland, Dec. 27—Ed. Mitchell has succeeded George Ebey as manager of the • Fulton Theatre here. The house wfll con- tinue to play dramatic stock. "MIRACLE MAN" COMPANIES SET The completed casts of the two "Miracle Man" companies that took to the road last week under the direction of the Benson Amusement Company, of New York, have been announced. In the first, which will go to the coast, the following names are found: Paul Git- more, Hal Crane, Cameron demons, Frank Readies, Sr., and Frank Readick, Jr., Millie Freeman; Bessyc Dainty, last season star of her own company; Dixie Blair, Al. Henderson, Mary Adair and Ted McLean. The second company, which wfll in all probability commence it's tour in Chicago, going from there through the middle west, is composed of Olaf Skavalan, William Tally, Sydney Leonard, Lucille Adams, Robert Craig, James Stewart, Carl Nor- man, Gertrude Valentine, Ben Anderson, Geraldine Wood and John Niljen. Both companies will play all the time there is throughout their selected territory and it is not expected to bring them back to New York for a year at least. ONE "ABE LINCOLN" RELEASED Chicago, HI., Dec IS—The historical drama "Abraham Lincoln," written by Ralph Thomas Kettering, and of which there are two troupes on .the road now, has been released for stock presentation. It has already been seen as a stock com- pany attraction in Minneapolis and Mil- waukee, where it played to phenomenal business. JOINS MAC LEAN PLAYERS Akbon, Ohio, Dec 27.—Francis. Say lea, who has just* finished a vaudeville tour, and J. F. Marlowe, are new additions to the MacLean Players, appearing here Both appeared in character parts this week and scored hits. "Captain Kid, Jr.," was the attraction. This is the company's twentieth week. -.„ "LETTY" PLAY RELEASED "So Long Letty," produced in New York some six years ago with Charlotte Greenwood and Sydney Grant in the lead- ing roles, has been released for stock, and the first performance of the play will be given by one of the Poll companies, as Jim Thatcher has already contracted for its use. OLIVER SWITCHES TOWNS Otis Oliver, who just finished a success- ful season. at Fort Wayne, Ind., has moved his company to El Paso, Texas, where he opens on the first of the year. He has made no changes in the personnel of the company, nor in its reportoire. ".No definite .time for the engagement there has been set. WESSELMAN*S CLOSE The WesseHman stock company, which had been playing steadily for twenty-eight weeks, and traveling by motor truck, was forced to close its season in Indianola, Neb., last week. Since then, the Wessell- mans have arrived in Los Angeles for the Winter. SMYTHE-WALLACE DOING WELL Schenectady, N. Y., Dec. 27.—The Smythe-Wallace Players, who opened a run here this week with "Bought and Paid For" as the initial attraction, have done an excellent week's business. Smythe Wal- lace himself is the leading man of the com- pany. DESMOND CO. DO REVIVAL Gebmantowtt, Po., Dec 29-—The Mae Desmond Players, appearing at the Orpheum here, under the direction of Frank Feilder, are presenting, this week, a re- vival of the old romantic drama, "Under Southern Skies." Miss Desmond' and Feilder are in the cast. DINKINS QUITS PAYTON CO. T. W. Dinkins has severed his connec- tions with the Corse Payton Stock Com- pany, now playing the Lexington Opera House. BOOKED FOR SOUTH AMERICA More than'fifty American acts have been booked for the South American Tour, Ltd., since the arrival in New York some weeks ago of A. Bach, general booking manager for the Segoin theatres in South America. Among those booked are the Marian dog acts, A. Bobbins and the' Mirano Brothers. The following acts leave by steamer on the following days for South America to play the theatres controlled by the South American Tour, Ltd.: Dec 31: McDonald Trio, Leah "La- Quillan Trio, the Four Avolos, Frawley and West and the Four Pierrots. Jan. 20: Polly Dassi and Company, Krayona Company, Herbert and Darem, Bert Wheeler and Company, Sisters Rappo, and Bestow. Feb. 15: The Skating Hamiltons, Ella Bard Company, Alberte Rouget and Com- pany, Tate and Tate and two other acts to fUL :> • March 15: The Petet Troupe, Anita Diaz's Monkeys, the Bios and three other acts to filL The South American Tour has estab- lished a New York office at 47 West Twenty-eighth street, with Bach in charge. CHICAGO NEWS WALTER MEAK1N RECOVERING Walter Meakin, local theatre manager and booker, is slowly recovering from a broken collar bone and injuries received when he was hit by an automobile last week and seriously hurt. Reports from the American Hospital state that he will recover. 'Scuttle, who was operated on for tumor, is also recovering, according to a bulletin issued this morning by Dr. Thorek. Miss Anna Gerder, of the' chorus of "The Gaiety Girl," is expected to be able to leave the hospital within the week. Percy Bronson, of Bronson and Bron- son, was forced to cancel his engagement at the Majestic Theatre this week, due to illness, and was immediately removed to the American Hospital, where be under- went an immediate operation. He is suffering from a complication of diseases. Miss Palmer, a member of "Tillie's Nightmare," has fully' recovered and re- joined her company. TALK OP HUMPTY DUMPTY HOUSE Chicago is to have a Humpty Dumpty Theatre, if plans now under way mater- ialize, a children's theatre, where SO and 25 cents win be charged and where the young folks of the city can see shows acted by children of their own age. The new venture plans to lease the Cen- tral Music Hall. A stock company will probably be formed, and it is punned to start operations in January. Mrs. Joseph N. .'Sisandrath and Mrs. Louis Stnmmer were named as members of a committee to finance the proposition. '■ JAKE STERNAD RESIGNS After one of the hardest weeks, of his life, spent as the manager of the State Congress Theatre, Jake Sternad has tendered his resignation as. manager of that playhouse, to take effect immediately. He is casting abont for another - position. Charles Cummings,' formerly manager of the State Congress, baa returned there again in the position as manager. The latest vaudeville house is said to be en- countering very bad business, regardless of the fact that it started out strong. It is badly located. EQUITY HEARS COMPLAINTS The local Equity board this week heard many cases of thespians against managers. Morrison and White were given a decision against the State Congress Theatre. A complaint against "La La Lucille,!' wherein the management endeavored to replace an actor with a stage carpenter, was dis- pensed with and the deal was called illegal. The actor still retains his posi- tion. MANAGER STUCK UP Hank Mallard, well known theatrical manager, wfll not tramp home so gleefully hereafter. On Wednesday night while roaming to his home on the north side, he , was greeted with the command to "throw them up." He did, and upon arrival at his domicile found himself short his wallet with 9900, a diamond ring, stick pin. and cuff links. Mallard admits the loot was well worth $L500. •• .;„.-, ...■ *si WON'T FIGHT INCREASES Chicago theatre managers wfll not fight the proposed increase in license fees, although they are averaging less than 2 per cent on their investments.' John 3. Garrity, representing the Theatre Man- agers* Association, appeared before the council license committee today and stated that the theatres would stand the addi- tional "levy. The present rate is $1,000 per year for legitimate theatres. The new ordinance would involve the payment of $1,600. EARL STEWART RESIGNS' Earl Stewart has resigned his position as managing director of the Palace Music Hall, to become the head of a steel com- pany in -Indiana. He will be succeeded by Col. William Roche, formerly manager of the Columbia and Star and Garter the- atres. ROLLO TIMPONI MARRIES Rollo Timpord, business manager of the Colonial Theatre, in this city, stepped out of bachelorhood last week and entered the ranks of the benedicts. Miss Helen Lind- say, a non-professional, is now Mrs. Rollo TlmponL The wedding party included Mr. and Mrs. David Howard and Miss Marcefle Barnes and Harry J. Powers, manager of the Colonial Theatre. HENRY BROWN ILL Henry Brown, Chicago's prominent club booking agent, is seriously ill at his home here and is constantly attended by phy- sicians. While his condition is reported as serious, it is thought that he will fully re- cover. He has been unconscious for several days. ACROBAT IS INVENTOR AL Gillette, formerly a well known acrobat, is the - inventor of. a carpet cleaner that is netting him quite a fortune and a goodly amount of fame. He retired from showdom a few years ago and' has since devoted his time to his inventions.